A Flickering Flame (A Descendants Story)

Chapter 4

"Mal"

I looked around to see myself in darkness, with the staff lighting up the dark.

"Mother?" I asked, my voice echoing.

I heard her laugh.

"I didn't expect you here, I thought you were done with 'being bad'?" She asked sarcastically.

"I need your help" I said.

"Oh, has Auradon betrayed you? Not what you first thought?" Maleficent asked.

I rolled my eyes.

"No, I am happy with myself" I replied.

"Oh are you now?" Maleficent asked.

"Are you back in your normal form?" I asked.

She laughed, sounding like a cackle.

"Of course deary! How would I be talking to you?" Maleficent asked.

"Are you a threat?" I asked.

"Not yet, depends on how your father feels" Maleficent said.

I widened my eyes.

"You know where Hades is?" I asked.

"Of course pumpkin, he isn't doing so well though..." Maleficent said, making me growl.

"Where is he? What did you do to him?" I demanded.

She laughed.

"A bad trait of yours, pride, you get it from your father" Maleficent said, annoyed "I haven't done anything, he's ill...and it's your fault"

I couldn't help but gasp.

"M-My fault?" I asked "How-"

I felt the glowing of the Ember on my chest.

I gasped.

"It's because I have his ember isn't it?" I asked.

"You're so smart deary!" Maleficent said "He gave it to you to protect you?"

"Protect me? What do you mean-"

"If you want to know..." Maleficent said "All you have to do is touch my st-"

"No, I know exactly what it does to me" I said.

"Oh do you really?" Maleficent asked.

"What you did to Audrey!" I snapped "I'm not stupid!"

She laughed.

"Well it would work for you differently, because you're blood!" Maleficent said "That brat got what she deserved but you..."

I could feel her presence around me.

I could sense her smirking.

"But you" my mother continued "You're my blood, you could be more powerful, not be constrained by those Auradon fools who think that everything is happy and thought it would be a good idea to lock us up!"

Her yell startled me, making me jump.

She chuckled right in my ear, making me turn around.

"Come on Mal, I know you want to" Maleficent said "Just touch it and all your worries will be over and your dreams will soar!"

"I don't want to" I said coldly.

"But deary, you will never know where you father is if you don't take it" Maleficent said, making my stomach drop.

I narrowed my eyes.

"Come on, I know you care about dear daddy now" Maleficent said, "You know you want to...I can feel your yarn for it"

I felt myself breaking.

"Stop it mother!" I snapped.

"You can feel it now, come on, it doesn't hurt anyone" my mother said as I felt my foot step towards it.

"You know I don't want this!" I exclaimed "Just tell me where dad is so I can give him his jewel"

She laughed.

"It's either you or him Mal, who are you going to chose?" my mother said "If you grab my staff, then your father can happily have this jewel..."

I looked down.

"But...if you don't take it them both your father and you will perish" my mother said...in a kind tone? "Take my words with cation"

"Why should I believe you?" I asked coldly.

"Honey, when have I ever lied to you?" my mother asked.

I sighed, trying to block out her voice.

"It won't work sweetheart, you know what you need to do to save everyone, but are you going to do it?" my mother said.

She's trying to guilt-trip me!

"Ben!" I exclaimed, making my mother laugh.

"You know he can't hear you, you're in a trance...about to grab my st-"

~~

My eyes snapped opened to reveal myself back in the office, with Ben kissing me.

I pulled away, gasping for air.

"Mal? Are you okay?" Ben asked.

"I-I need to lie down" I whispered, Ben leading me to the chair facing Fairy Godmother's desk.

"What did you see dear?" Fairy Godmother asked.

"I saw the staff" I said "And my mother's voice is there, she's definitely alive"

They both gasped.

"But she knows where Hades is, and apparently it's because of this" I said, holding up the ember which is still in my hand from before.

"It would make sense, his soul is literally in that" Fairy Godmother said "Where is he?"

"I don't know" I replied "The only person that knows is Maleficent and the only way she will tell me is if I touch and use that staff which I know I can't do without turning...well, evil"

"If she is back then we can try and track her moments since her magic signature is back" Fairy Godmother said "Don't worry Mal, we will find her"

"Should we notify the public?" Ben asked.

"Not the best" I replied "They only just got used to me...until she becomes more powerful and we know she's a threat-"

"Of course she's a threat! She's a villain!" Ben exclaimed.

I glared at him.

"She is looking after my father, last time I checked they hate each other" I said sourly.

"She could be lying Mal" Ben said.

"I know when she lies Ben, she isn't, she doesn't work like that" I said "She hits you with the hard truth and then uses your pity to her advantage"

Ben sighed.

"We should notify the council immediately" Ben said "They haven't left yet"

I nodded.

"You do that, Fairy Godmother and I can work on getting the location of my mother so we can get my father" I said.

Ben sighed and nodded, walking out.